The Gentoo ecosystem has evolved significantly over 23 years, highlighting
the critical impact of developer sentiment on workforce dynamics such as
turnover, retention, and growth. While prior research has explored sentiment at
the project level, sentiment-driven dynamics at the component level remain
underexplored, particularly in their implications for software stability.
This study investigates the interplay between developer sentiment and
workforce dynamics in Gentoo. The primary objectives are to (1) compare
workforce metrics (turnover, retention, and growth rates) between
sentiment-positive (SP) and sentiment-negative (SN) components, (2) examine
temporal trends across three time phases, and (3) analyze the impact of these
dynamics on software stability.
A mixed-method approach was employed, integrating sentiment analysis of
mailing lists and commit histories using the SentiStrength-SE tool. Workforce
metrics were statistically analyzed using Pearson Correlation Matrix and
Mann-Whitney U tests. The analysis focused on the most SP and SN components in
the ecosystem.
SN components exhibited higher retention rates but slower growth and turnover
compared to SP components, which showed dynamic contributor behavior but
reduced long-term stability. Temporal analysis revealed significant variations
in workforce dynamics over three phases, with developer retention correlating
positively with modifications in both sentiment groups.
Tailored strategies are necessary for managing sentiment-driven dynamics in
OSS projects. Improving \textit{adaptability} in SN components, and
\textit{continuity} in SP components, could improve project sustainability and
innovation. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of sentiment’s
role in workforce behavior and software stability within OSS ecosystems.

Este artículo explora los viajes en el tiempo y sus implicaciones.

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